The way Wood’s started his Leicester career, he appeared to be the final piece in Nigel Pearson’s attempt to gain Premier League promotion.

But today, as Pearson’s side prepare to face Gus Poyet’s Brighton, it doesn’t seem an exaggeration to say this is Leicester’s last chance to save a season that is in danger of being thrown away.

On the first day of February, following a 2-1 home win against Wolves, Leicester were second in the Championship, three points clear of third-placed Hull and 11 clear of seventh-placed Brighton.

Looking back, that was the start of their incomprehensible slide down the table, as they won only once in their next eleven league games.

A run of just six points from a possible 33 sees them in seventh going in to today’s match against the Seagulls, who are one place and two points above them.

A win this afternoon is crucial if Leicester wish to maintain any hope of a return to the top flight after nine years away. And even that may not be enough as upcoming fixtures against Watford, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace may leave them cursing a shocking run that shows no signs of ending.

Leicester’s fate remains in their own hands…just. But lose today and it falls into the hands of others.

In a league as unpredictable as the Championship, that isn’t always a bad thing. And the absurd thing is that despite such a terrible run of form, the Foxes may still get promoted. But what just two months ago was a tantalising possibility now seems an almost-impossible dream.

Will Leicester turn their season around starting this afternoon? Or will they miss out on the play-offs?

Vincent Ralph

After graduating with a degree in English Literature, Vincent completed a NCTJ-accredited qualification in newspaper and magazine journalism in 2005. Shortly after, in a somewhat leftfield move, he began working at a secondary school in Kent. After eight years – the last four of which were spent as Head of Sixth Form – he began to write full-time, combining his love of football with his passion for the written word.Alongside his work for HITC Sport, he also writes film reviews for HITC Lifestyle… along with the odd music interview when fate allows.